Second World War Books
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Blood and Steel
Book SynopsisOrdered by Hitler 'to hold, or to die' and to fight 'to the last grenade and round', the German army was a formidable opponent during the 1944 Normandy campaign. This book depicts the experience of that army in Normandy through its own records and documentation. The Wehrmacht Archive is an informative and colourful collection of translated original orders, diaries, letters, after action reports, and even jokes, as well as Allied technical evaluations of weapons, vehicles and equipment and transcripts of prisoner of war interrogations. You will also learn from official documents about the Germans' efforts to cope with Allied air and artillery superiority, create new tactical methods for all arms and maintain discipline in the face of overwhelming odds.
£26.74
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Disaster at D-Day: The Germans Defeat the Allies,
Book SynopsisIt is June 1944. The Allied armies are poised for the full-scale invasion of Fortress Europe. Across the Channel, the vaunted Wehrmacht lies waiting for the signs of invasion, ready for the final battle. What happens next is well-known to any student of modern history. The outcome could easily have been very different, as Peter Tsouras shows in this masterful and devastating account in which plans, missions and landings go horribly wrong. Tsouras firmly bases his narrative on facts but introduces minor adjustments at the opening of the campaign-the repositioning of a unit, bad weather and misjudged orders-and examines their effect as they gather momentum and impact on all subsequent events. Without deviating from the genuine possibilities of the situation, he presents a scenario that keeps the reader guessing and changes the course of history.
£17.16
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Born of the Desert: With the SAS in North Africa
Book SynopsisBorn of the Desert is a classic account of the early years of the SAS. The Special Air Service was formed in 1941 and quickly earned a reputation for stealth, daring and audacity in the Western Desert Campaign. This elite force utilised the endless expanse of the desert to carry out surprise attacks and hit and run raids behind the Afrika Korps' lines, sowing confusion, fear and consternation. Malcolm James served as Medical Officer with the SAS throughout 1942 and 1943, and Born of the Desert is his atmospheric account of his life in the North African desert, the bitter fighting against Italian and German targets and the forging of a remarkable elite unit. James captures the excitement of this dramatic mode of warfare and brings to life the deadly beauty of the desert, the harsh environment and the strong bonds of comradeship and interdependence which resulted. Born of the Desert was written soon after the events depicted and has an immediacy which places it above other Second World War memoirs. The original text has now been augmented by supplementary notes by David List, and appendices on SAS casualties and awards by David Buxton.
£21.44
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Bloody Road to Tunis: Destruction of the Axis
Book SynopsisAs the Afrika Korps withdrew after a bruising defeat at El Alamein, it became apparent that Axis forces would not be able to maintain their hold over Libya. Rommel pulled his troops back to Tunisia, digging in along the Mareth Line, and turned westwards to counter the massive Anglo-American 'Torch' landings in French North Africa. A series of bitter battles in the craggy hills of Tunisia followed - including the legendary struggle for the Kasserine Pass - with the Germans displaying skills honed in two years of desert fighting, and the Allies relying on their superiority in equipment and manpower. Allied might eventually overpowered Rommel's army and, in May 1943, Axis forces surrendered. David Rolf has made use of rare and valuable source material to present the Tunisian campaign in its entirety. His emphasis is on personal accounts, and use of contemporary dialogue, takes the reader to the heart of the emotions experienced by units fighting on both sides, and adds colour to this intricate 'battle of wits' between legendary commanders. The result is a brilliant example of historical writing and a unique insight into six months of stubborn fighting.
£18.62
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Fighting the Breakout
Book Synopsis'Fascinating and essential stuff.' Gary Sheffield in Military Illustrated This gripping volume charts the progress of the Allied breakout of Normandy through German eyes. Beginning with Operation COBRA and ending with the offensive which led to the liberation of Paris, this critical phase of the war in the west is examined and described by five senior German officers. From staff officers at OKW to divisional generals on the ground, these officers critique their performance, examine Allied superiority, and evaluate their own efforts to contain Allied forces in Normandy. They look at such key events as the counter-attack at Mortain, the American offensive, British and Canadian efforts and the sequence of events that led to the fighting around the Falaise gap. The officers originally submitted the reports presented here to Allied intelligence during post-war debriefing sessions. This volume brings together a selection of these reports to provide a broad overview of German hopes balanced with the realisation that they could not hope to contain the Allied efforts for long. With supplementary material by David C.Isby, this is a fascinating glimpse into how a defeated army sought hard to turn the tide of defeat.
£18.79
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Luftwaffe Over America
Book SynopsisThis thought-provoking book examines the Nazi German plans to raid - and bomb - New York and the eastern seabord in the event of a successful invasion of the Soviet Union. The plans rested upon the use of transoceanic aircraft, such as the six-engined Ju 390, Me 264 or Ta 400. The Third Reich was unable to produce these machines in sufficient numbers, however, if the Soviet Union had been conquered, these plans would have become a reality. With the seizure of vital resources from the Soviet Union the Wehrmacht would have had enough fuel and material to mass-produce giant bomber aircraft: it was a near-run thing. The collapse of the Wehrmacht infrastructure and the premature end of the Thousand Year Reich ensured that plans for long-range remote-controlled missiles never got past the drawing board. This fascinating, thoroughly researched study offers valuable insights into how Germany developed new weapons and shows why the attempts to develop long range bombers were frustrated until they were terminated by the end of hostilities. Includes more than a hundred rarely seen photographs and original plans.
£16.15
Amberley Publishing The Dam Busters: A Pocket History
Book SynopsisGuy Gibson’s 617 Squadron was founded for one reason only – Operation Chastise – the raid on the Ruhr dams. Using Barnes Wallis’ revolutionary bouncing bomb, the hand-picked crews trained day and night over British reservoirs, perfecting the techniques required to deliver the new weapon to its target. On the night of 16/17 May 1943, three waves of modifi ed Lancasters took off and headed for the industrial heartland of Germany and a series of daring raids on the various dams providing water and electricity to the heart of the Nazi war machine. Of the three main targets – the Möhne, Sorpe and Eder dams – two were destroyed, causing chaos downstream. The Möhne dam succumbed after fi ve Upkeep bouncing bombs had hit it. It took three bombs to destroy the Eder dam but the Sorpe dam remained almost intact. Despite the losses in men and aircraft, the raid was a huge success. 617 Squadron went on to become one of the premier squadrons in Bomber Command, and destroyed the Tirpitz using another of Wallis’ bombs – the Tallboy, a 12,000lb ‘earthquake’ bomb. Made into a fi lm starring Richard Todd as Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC, their raid on the Ruhr dams has become the stuff of legend. This is the story of the Dam Busters.
£12.68
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Through Hitler's Back Door
Book SynopsisRomania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia were all German allies in the Second World War, unlike the other countries of Europe which had either been forcibly occupied by the Nazis or remained neutral.SOE Missions mounted within their borders were thus doubly hazardous for they were conducted in enemy-populated territory, heavily policed by military forces and gendarmerie. Furthermore all these states had well developed and experienced security services, usually supplemented by Gestapo and Abwehr units.A further complication to the activities of SOE in these countries was that they had all been effectively conceded by Western Allies to Russia; not surprisingly therefore, operations in the Soviet 'sphere of influence' were to prove diabolically difficult.This is a story about the courage of individuals in the face of overwhelming odds. Hunger, ill-health, exhaustion, cold and treachery all combined to make life for those members of SOE who parachuted into these Fascist outposts of Fortress Europe as insufferable as it was dangerous.
£27.09
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Fallschirmjager: Elite German Paratroops in World
Book SynopsisThe photos in this book are taken from an unpublished album belonged to a member of the elite German Paratroopers. First Sgt Wilhelm Plieschen served with Fallschirmjager Machine Gun Battalion 7. They suffered very heavy losses in the invasion of Crete and then saw bloody conflict as "Hitler s Fire-fighters" on the Russian Front and put up fierce resistance in places such as Monte Casino. The photographs were taken in Austria, Romania, Bulgaria Greece and Russia. There are photographs taken on an airfield on 15 May 1941 of paratroopers with kit on the ground and in front of their transport aircraft. There are a number of photographs taken en route to Crete with photographs of the paratroopers in a JU52 and shots looking out from the plane.On 20 May 1941, Plieschen was dropped over Crete. There are a set of photographs taken by the paratrooper moments after he had landed on the island. Some show other paratroopers drifting down and others feature formations of German aircraft amidst flak.There are very good images showing Germans on the deck of the badly damaged and abandoned HMS York in Souda Bay. There are photographs showing Major Erich Schulz decorating paratroopers on Crete. Further on in the set are photos showing the then Commander of the Fallschirmjager, General Kurt Student inspecting the troops. Later our man is sent to Russia. There are outstanding rare photos of paratroopers in heavy winter camouflage clothing. They experience heavy fighting.
£17.97
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Not Ordinary Men: The Story of the Battle of
Book SynopsisHaving driven the British and Indian Forces out of Burma in 1942, General Mutaguchi, Commanding the 15th Japanese Army, was obsessed by the conquest of India. In 1944 the British 14th Army, under its commander General Slim, drew back to the Imphal Plain before Mutaguchi's impending offensive.However to the north, the entire Japanese 31st Division had crossed the Chindwin and, on April 5, arrived at the hill-station and road junction of Kohima, cutting off Imphal except by air from the supply point at Dimpapur. Kohima was initially manned by only 266 men of the Assam Regiment and a few hundred convalescents and administrative troops. They were joined, on April 5, by 440 men of the Fourth Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment, straight from the Battle of Arakan.In pouring rain, under continual bombardment, this tiny garrison held the assaults of thirteen thousand Japanese troops in hand-tohand combat for sixteen days, an action described by Mountbatten as 'probably one of the greatest battles in history n effect the Battle of Burma, naked, unparalled herosim, the British/Indian Thermopylae'.
£21.01
Pen & Sword Books Ltd Battle East of Elsenborn and the Twin Villages
Book SynopsisThis book tells of the courageous story of men who believed in their heritage, and who, through their heroic teamwork and dedication, stopped the main effort of the German Sixth Army. American veterans who participated in this battle remember the events, even after sixty years, as only yesterday. They also remember their compatriots and friends who died in this battle. The book covers what is essentially a five-day critical battle for the North shoulder of the 'Bulge' at Rochearth-Krinkelt. The Bulge was fought was fought in many areas, but it was won for the First Army on this shoulder.The author, has probed into every possible source for factual information. He has studied official after-action reports, histories and unit reports of organisations involved in the battle. In addition, he has conducted an extensive program of individual contacts, not only with the US Army participants, local villages and resistance fighters, but also with German commanders at various levels in the 3 divisions involved. Such an ample and widespread research effort has enabled the author to separate fact from fiction.Trade ReviewHis knowledge is obviously quite comprehensive and his access to first hand accounts and archive material offers o some really stunning photographs. This book will have huge appeal to those with a strong interest in US operations in north-west Europe and to a general reader who appreciates strong personal accounts. - War History Online
£18.29
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC No Greater Ally: The Untold Story of Poland’s
Book SynopsisThere is a chapter of World War II history that remains largely untold; the monumental struggles of an entire nation have been forgotten, and even intentionally obscured. Giving a full overview of Poland's participation in World War II. Following their valiant but doomed defence of Poland in 1939, members of the Polish armed forces fought with the Allies wherever and however they could. Full of previously unpublished accounts, and rare photographs, this title provides a detailed analysis of the devastation the war brought to Poland, and the final betrayal when, having fought for freedom for six long years, Poland was handed to the Soviet Union.Table of ContentsIntroduction /1: Dawn of Darkness (the pre-war situation and the invasion of Poland in 1939) /2: French Misfortunes (The aftermath of the invasion, and the difficulties of the Polish forces trying to re-form in France, the fall of France, and the Polish evacuation to England) /3: Everything was in Secret (The story of the largest, most complex and most active resistance movement of the war) /4: On Wings of Eagles (Air War over Poland in 1939, over France in 1940, and then in England until the end of the war) /5: Warriors from a Wasteland (the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Polish PoWs and civilians deported to Soviet camps, and then the 100,000 survivors allowed to re-form a Polish army following Germany's declaration of war on the Soviet Union. /6: A Bloody Job Well Done (1st armored division, their formation, and their role in the Normandy breakout, and on into Germany) /7: A Bridge Not Far Enough (the 1st Polish Independant Parachute brigade, their formation, and their role in Operation Market Garden) /8: Poles Under Soviet Command (The actions of those Poles unable to leave Russia who fought as part of the 2nd Polish Corps, fighting under Soviet command from Stalingrad to Berlin) /9: Glory and Heartbreak (The Warsaw Uprising) /10: For Your Freedom (The devastation wrought on Poland by the war, the post-war settlements and the fate of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Polish troops and civilians) /Notes /Further Reading /Index
£999.99
Countryside Books Cheshire Airfields in the Second World War
Book SynopsisCheshire's contribution to the war effort was massive and it began well before the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. This book will appeal equally to aviation enthusiasts and to readers who recall the era when the county's skies never ceased to throb with the drone of departing and returning aircraft. Aldon Ferguson's thoroughly researched and action-packed book describes the history of each airfield, highlights the work carried out from them and puts these air stations into the overall context of a county and country at war.
£21.09
Countryside Books Gloucestershire Airfields in the Second World War
Book SynopsisA full account of the part played by Gloucestershire's airfields during the Second World War. The history of each airfield is described with the squadrons and aircraft based at them and the main operations flown. The effects of the war on the daily lives of civilians and the constant dangers from raids and night bombing are also detailed. Fully illustrated.
£21.31
Auckland University Press Te Hau Kainga
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£59.14
Independent Books Blue Skies and Dark Nights
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£19.95
The Library of America Reporting World War II Vol. 2 (LOA #78): American
Book SynopsisThis Library of America volume (along with its companion) evokes an extraordinary period in American history—and in American journalism. Martha Gellhorn, Ernie Pyle, John Hersey, A.J. Liebling, Edward R. Murrow, Janet Flanner: in a time when public perceptions were shaped mainly by the written word, correspondents like these were often as influential as politicians and as celebrated as movie stars. This second volume traces the final eighteen months of the war: the campaign in Italy and the Southwest Pacific, the Normandy invasion, the island battles from Saipan to Iwo Jima, the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, the fall of Berlin, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Here are Ernie Pyle bearing witness to war in the infantrymen’s foxholes; A.J. Liebling on D-Day; Robert Sherrod and Tom Lea landing with Marines and registering the horrors of Pacific Island warfare; Martha Gellhorn and Edward R. Murrow indelibly reporting on the liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald. Here too are two great book-length works, included in full: Bill Mauldin’s Up Front, the classic evocation of war from the GI’s point of view, complete with his famous cartoons, and Hiroshima, John Hersey’s compassionate account of the first atomic bombing and its aftermath. Writers who covered the home front are included as well: S.J. Perelman on the absurdities of wartime advertising, James Agee on the impact of wartime newsreels, E.B. White on the United Nations conference in San Francisco. Here too are writers on aspects of the war still often neglected: Vincent Tubbs and Bill Davidson on the combat role of African-American soldiers; Susan B. Anthony II on working in the Navy Yard; I.F. Stone protesting U.S. government inaction in the face of Nazi genocide. This volume contains a detailed chronology of the war, historical maps, biographical profiles of the journalists, explanatory notes, a glossary of military terms, and an index. Also included are thirty-two pages of photographs of the correspondents, many from private collections and never seen before.LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.
£29.75
The University of Akron Press Lichfield: The U.S. Army on Trial
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£23.28
The University of Akron Press Lichfield: The U.S. Army on Trial
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£14.50
Robert D. Reed Publishers Other Side of War
Book SynopsisDuring WWII Herbert M Youngdahl was an Infantry Platoon Sergeant in the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa National Guard. He served with the Division throughout the African Campaign, up to the boot of Italy, and north of Rome. The Division set the WWII record of over 500 days in battle and Youngdahl served out most of that time with the Division. In his heartfelt book, Youngdahl shares many real life experiences of his platoon. This is not a gory dissertation but an insider's view of what our troops went through in far away places.
£8.95
University of Alaska Press Alaska's Hidden Wars: Secret Campaigns on the
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£999.99
University of Hertfordshire Press Under Fire: Essex and the Second World War,
Book SynopsisIn this meticulous study of the impact of total war on the civilian population of Essex between 1939 and 1945, Paul Rusiecki examines how people coped with the immense stress caused by heavy bombing, the fear of invasion and other anxieties while so much was demanded of them by the authorities. The book brings into focus the social, economic, political, and religious strains caused by the war. Education was forced to adapt in the face of massive disruption and industry too; the contribution to victory made by firms that switched to war work is analyzed. A picture emerges through the records kept by individuals of how Essex people viewed wartime events both at home and much further afield—the successes and failures of their own government and the actions of both allies and enemies. The experience of war also encompasses aspects that are at odds with traditional views of wartime Britain and the so-called ""Dunkirk spirit."" Rusiecki recounts the hostility faced by conscientious objectors, as well as the undercurrents of political disaffection circulating by 1942 which produced a sensational by-election result at Maldon. The murkier aspects of the war in Essex—crime and a supposed crisis in morality—are also dealt with in depth. Faced with the most appalling circumstances, most nonetheless found ways of keeping their spirits up, whether that meant reading in air-raid shelters, continuing to flock to the theater and cinema, or playing football for their factory team. This is the story of how the people of Essex survived the most extraordinary challenges they had ever faced, ultimately emerging with a sense of having earned the right to eradicate the gross inequalities that had marred society for so long.Table of Contents1 War, Phoney War and disaster 2 Nightmares come true:The Blitz 3 Fortress Essex 4 Popular protest 5 Second front 6 Carrying on 7 Criminals, conchies and clergymen 8 Doodlebugs, rockets and victory
£32.24
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd Personal Engagement and the Study of the
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£74.77
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd Ben Helfgott: The Story of One of the Boys
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£29.36
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd A Hidden Jewish Child from Belgium: Survival,
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£26.07
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd How to Love a Child: And Other Selected Works
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£74.65
The Pool of London Press The Last Big Gun: At War & at Sea with HMS
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£23.75
The Pool of London Press Churchill: Warrior: How a Military Life Guided
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£23.75
Pushkin Press Flatlands
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£14.88
Helion & Company How Modest are the Bravest!: Courage from the
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£26.35
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd How to Love a Child: And Other Selected Works
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£74.61
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd Bashert: A Granddaughter's Holocaust Quest
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£24.93
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd Let Him Go
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£22.08
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd A Fairy Tale Unmasked: The Teacher and the Nazi
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£27.89
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd Working for the War Effort: German-Speaking
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£59.08
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd From Nuremberg to Hollywood: The Holocaust and
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£34.45
Vallentine Mitchell & Co Ltd Hitler’s Prophecy: The Key to the Holocaust
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£26.25
MONASH UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING The Emperors Grace Untold Stories of the
Book SynopsisThe Emperorâ s Grace is the story of the men of C Force â the first contingent of Australian, British and Dutch prisoners of war shipped from Singapore to Japan in November 1942. These men worked in the Kawasaki Shipyard in Kobe before the American firebombing campaign razed the city, and then the infamous Fukuoka coal mine before the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought World War II to an end. When the Japanese seized most of South-East Asia in early 1942, they captured 22,000 Australian military personnel. More than a third would die over the next three years from malnutrition, disease and violent abuse. The horrors of the Thaiâ Burma Railway and Sandakan are well documented. Less well known is the fate of the 3800 Australians sent to work as slave labourers in the factories and mines of mainland Japan. The Emperorâ s Grace is a compelling story of hardship, heroism and endurance â and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit â
£32.05
ATF Press Bleiburg: Massacre of the Croatian People 1945
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£49.20
ATF Press Bleiburg: Massacre of the Croatian People 1945
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£54.99
Monash University Publishing Tragedy and Triumph: Early Testimonies of Jewish
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£999.99
The Library of America Reporting World War II: American Journalism
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£17.06
Robert D. Reed Publishers A B-17 Gunner's Hell in German Skies: Scratch One
Book SynopsisThe Messerschmitt ME 163 Komet was the most dangerous production fighter ever built by Germany, and Sgt. E.R. Jones of Stockton, California received the unique credit of jointly shooting down a Komet over Germany in 1944.Using information written by Sgt. Jones in a tiny diary notebook provided by Sgt. Jones' widow, Mae Jones, and microfilm file material obtained from the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, this book by Doug Brodie is a fascinating account of aerial warfare over Europe during World War II. Also included are original aerial warfare photos obtained from Henrietta Massey of Jefferson City, Missouri, the widow of Air Force photographer Gerald R. Massey who took photos while flying in U.S. bombers high in the sky over Europe. During the course of his research, Doug Brodie discovered that Massey and Jones flew the same mission on November 2, 1944 in a raid over Mersburg, Germany.
£9.95
Casemate Publishers The Filthy Thirteen: The True Story of the Dirty
Book SynopsisSince World War II, the American public has become fully aware of the exploits of the 101st Airborne Division, but within the ranks of the 101st there existed a notorious sub-unit whose formidable reputation has persisted among veterans over the decades. Primarily products of the Dustbowl and the Depression, and never ones to salute an officer, or take a bath, the Filthy 13 attained legendary status within the Screaming Eagles for its hard drinking, and savage fighting skill – and that was only in training.
£28.50
Casemate Publishers The Filthy Thirteen: The True Story of the Dirty
Book SynopsisSince World War II, the US 101st Airborne Division has achieved legendary status. But within the ranks of the 101st there existed a rougher, tougher and more ruthless unit whose formidable reputation has persisted over the decades to this day: the Filthy Thirteen.Never ones to salute an officer, or take a bath, the men of this squad became singular within the ‘Screaming Eagles’ for their hard drinking and savage fighting skills . . . and that was only in training. Just prior to the invasion of Normandy, a Stars and Stripes photographer caught US paratroopers with heads shaved into mohawks, applying war paint to their faces. Unknown to the American public at the time, these men were the Filthy Thirteen. After parachuting behind enemy lines in the dark hours before D-Day, the Germans got a taste of the reckless courage of this unit, except now the men were fighting with Tommy guns and explosives, not just bare knuckles.In its spearhead role, the unit suffered heavy casualties, with some men wounded and others blown to bits. By the end of the war thirty men had passed through the squad. However, the heart and soul of the Filthy Thirteen remained in a survivor named Jake McNiece, a half-breed Indian from Oklahoma: the toughest man in the squad and the one who formed its character. McNiece made four combat jumps, was in the forefront of every fight in northern Europe, yet somehow never made the rank of Private First Class. The survivors of the Filthy Thirteen stayed intact as a unit until the Allies conquered Nazi Germany.Hugely popular on first publication, this books tells of a brawling bunch of no-goodniks whose only saving grace was that they inflicted more damage on the Germans than on MPs, the English countryside and their own officers. Still, the Filthy Thirteen remain a legend within the ranks of the 101st Airborne.
£18.04
Casemate Publishers A Mighty Fortress: Lead Bomber Over Europe
Book Synopsis‘In a fascinating way, Chuck Alling recalls his days as a pilot flying B-17’s over Germany. He is truly a member of ‘The Greatest Generation’ and from his book, written from the heart, people can learn a lot about the laughs and the tears of World War II.’ – Former President George H. W. Bush• A unique insight into the lives of a lead-bomber crew in WWII• An extraordinary tale of everyday braveryA Mighty Fortress is the personal account of the captain and crew of a lead bomber in the enormous formation raids made by the 8th Airforce during the last few months of the Second World War.It is an extraordinary tale of heroism and bravery on the part of the entire crew of just one B17 amongst hundreds – but the one B17 that meant most to them.Flying a total of 27 missions before the war came to an end in May 1945, Alling tells, with great restraint, the story of what it was like to be there, over the skies of enemy territory, constantly on the look out for German fighters; of the enormity of some of the raids they were part of and the consequences for those on the ground; of the planes around them that fell out of the sky under enemy attack, the horror and the determination to succeed. The book gives a unique insight into the lives of one crew of one plane as the War neared its end.About the AuthorCharles B. Alling received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters during the Second World War. He graduated from Yale University in 1947. In 1988, he retired and studied Ethics at Oxford University Graduate School in England. He lives in Kennebunk, Maine.Trade ReviewIt's an easy and informative read. * The Historical Miniatures Gaming Society 14/12/2022 *...genuine, exceptionally well written, illuminated by flashes of emotional caring, gentleness commingling with a resolute fighting spirit. * ARGunners.com 14/12/2022 *
£18.04
Casemate Publishers The Tank Killers: A History of America's World
Book Synopsis“It involves some tense moments, and these are recorded vividly in this book, including interviews with many TD veterans, plus official reports and documents.”The Tank Killers is the story of the American Tank Destroyer Force in North Africa, Italy, and the European Theatre during World War II. The tank destroyer (TD) was a bold-if some would say flawed-answer to the challenge posed by the seemingly unstoppable German blitzkrieg. The TD was conceived to be light and fast enough to outmanoeuvre panzer forces and go where tanks could not. At the same time, the TD would wield the firepower needed to kill any German tank on the battlefield. Indeed, American doctrine stipulated that TDs would fight tanks, while American tanks would concentrate on achieving and exploiting breakthroughs of enemy lines.The Tank Killers follows the men who fought in the TDs from the formation of the force in 1941 through the victory over the Third Reich in 1945. It is a story of American flexibility and pragmatism in military affairs. Tank destroyers were among the very first units to land in North Africa in 1942. Their first vehicles were ad hoc affairs: Halftracks and weapons carriers with guns no better than those on tanks and thin armour affording the crews considerably less protection. Almost immediately, the crews realised that their doctrine was incomplete. They began adapting to circumstances, along with their partners in the infantry and armoured divisions. By the time that North Africa was in Allied hands, the TD had become a valued tank fighter, assault gun, and artillery piece.The story continues with the invasion of Italy and finally that of Fortress Europe on 6 June 1944. By now, the brass had decreed that half the force would convert to towed guns, a decision that dogged the affected crews through the end of the war. The TD men encountered increasingly lethal enemies, ever more dangerous panzers that were often vulnerable only to their guns while American tank crews watched in frustration as their rounds bounced harmlessly off the thick German armour. They fought under incredibly diverse conditions that demanded constant modification of tactics. By VE day, the tank destroyer battalions had achieved impressive records, generally with kill/loss rates heavily in their favour. Yet the Army after the war concluded that the concept of a separate TD arm was so fundamentally flawed that not a single battalion existed after November 1946.The Tank Killers draws heavily on the records of the tank destroyer battalions and the units with which they fought. Veterans of the force add their personal stories.Trade ReviewIf you have been looking for a good book on United States Army tank destroyers, and missed the earlier hardback edition, then this is it. The book includes some useful appendices; these include brief profiles of all the Tank Destroyer battalions and plenty of valuable references * Tank, The Royal Tank Regiment Journal *It involves some tense moments, and these are recorded vividly in this book, including interviews with many TD veterans, plus official reports and documents. * Military Illustrated *Ever wondered why the M10/18 Tank Destroyers were designed they way they were? Or how they were intended to be used? Well, in this book you will find the answers. Harry Yeide has produced an excellent history of what has been described as ‘The most successful failure in American military history’. * Historic Military Vehicle Forum *This book is a fitting tribute and useful to the general historian and modeller. * Military Modelcraft International *In this book, the author recounts the dramatic and sometimes overlooked story of the men in the American Tank Destroyer Battalion. Drawing on official reports and documents, and first hand accounts, the author presents the entire story of the Battalion, from its formation in 1941 through to the final victory in 1945 * Britain at War Magazine *
£18.36
Casemate Jungvolk The Story of a Boy Defending Hitlers
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£27.16
